Shrub rose plant named &#34;Meiboulka&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of landscape shrub rose plant is provided which forms attractive single bicolored blossoms. The blossom petals are bright red on the upper surface and white, pink, and red on the under surface. The plant exhibits a bushy growth habit. The attractive dark green and glossy foliage contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as ornamentation in the landscape.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meiboulka

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was a cross between the ‘Kormax’ variety (non-patented in the United States) and a non-patented and unnamed seedling. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the cross between ‘Meipoque’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,956) and the ‘Korimro’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The ‘Meipoque’ variety is being marketed under the PINK MEIDILAND trademark. The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: (‘Kormax’×Unnamed Seedling)×(‘Meipoque’×‘Korimro’).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present invention

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit,     -   (b) forms attractive single bicolored blossoms wherein the         petals are bright red on the upper surface and white, pink, and         red on the under surface,     -   (c) forms dark green glossy foliage that contrasts well with the         blossom coloration, and     -   (d) is particularly well suited for providing attractive         ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. For instance, the ‘Kormax’ variety forms large red blossoms having six petals, the ‘Meipoque’ variety forms pink blossoms, and the ‘Korimro’ variety forms white blossoms.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting and cuttage. Asexual propagation by the above-techniques in France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiboulka’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were approximately eighteen months of age and were observed during May while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a cluster of floral buds before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud wherein the opening of the sepals is more advanced;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with three leaflets—plan view—upper surface;

FIG. 15—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with five leaflets—plan view—under surface; and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—plan view—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of eighteen month old plants during May while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Thorns.—longish pointed, slightly curved downwards at the             tip on the upper surface, and concave on the under surface. -   Leaves:     -   -   Leaflets.—number 3, 5 and 7. shape: generally elliptic with             an obtuse base, and a somewhat cuspidate tip. serration:             single and fine. texture: firm and consistent. general             appearance: dark green and glossy on the upper surface, and             lighter green on the under surface. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Sepals.—narrow and longish pointed.         -   Buds.—shape: conical. size: small.         -   flower.—petalage: single. shape: somewhat flattened when             fully open. color (open flower): upper surface: bright red.             undersurface: white, pink, and red. petal texture: somewhat             wavy. petal arrangement: imbricated. petal drop: good with             the petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying.             anthers: regularly arranged around the styles. -   Development:     -   -   Aptitude to bear fruit.—present. 

1. A new and distinct landscape shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit, (b) forms attractive single bicolored blossoms wherein the petals are bright red on the upper surface and white, pink, and red on the under surface, (c) forms dark green glossy foliage that contrasts well with the blossom coloration, and (d) is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape; substantially as herein shown and described 